> However, infectious diseases ARE qualitatively different from risks from traffic accidents, as the latter can't spread exponentially.

Which is no longer the case for COVID, hence there no longer being a rationale for restrictions.

> there's no way to be sure the healthcare system won't reach a point where healthcare workers are constantly overworked just in order to be able to provide the extra care required for infected patients.

Then that's a case for increasing resources to a level of care that is deemed appropriate by society.

Not turning society itself into a sick patient.